Respite from rain prompts authorities to patch up roads

Potholes on the entire stretch from the Old Patto Bridge to the T-junction at Four Pillars were patched up on Thursday.

PANAJI

The respite from rains provided by the weather on Thursday egged the authorities from the Public Works Department in coordination with the technical division of the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) to begin patching up the capital city's badly battered roads.

Since morning on Thursday, workers were seen filling up the potholes along the 'Rua de Ourem' using pre-mixed cold tar and levelling them with a road-roller.

Potholes on the entire stretch from the Old Patto Bridge to the T-junction at Four Pillars were patched up on Thursday.

An official of the CCP said all of Panaji's roads where potholes have developed will be patched up in the coming days. CCP Mayor Rohit Monserrate had recently assured that the roads will be repaired before Ganesh Chathurti.

Meanwhile the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)  in a press release has said its #BJPCheBurak campaign launched across the State on Sunday has awakened the BJP government.

"After months of neglect, the government has now rushed to begin road repair work in a haphazard manner which is more like damage control than actual work," the AAP release said.

The AAP press release claimed that Majorda railway station road, Agarvaddo in Mandrem, and the road from Fontainhas to four pillars were all taken up after the #BJPCheBurak protest by the party leaders and volunteers.

"The very same locations where AAP protests had exposed the pothole-ridden roads have been taken up for repair action by the government but the quality of the work being done is questionable," it added.

Meanwhile, addresing the media, AAP's State president Amit Palekar said: “People were suffering due to poor roads and several accidents had occurred, some claiming lives. But the BJP government acted only when AAP hit the streets with the #BJPCheBurak."

AAP General Secretary (Organisation) Srikrishna Parab, questioned the quality of the patch-up work which he said will only serve a short term purpose.

“We don’t need temporary patchwork. We demand that permanent and quality road repairs be ensured, not just quick-fixes for headlines," Parab said, adding that the party will continue the #BJPCheBurak campaign till all the affected roads across the State are dealt with.